Artificial leg



A. BEURDELEY- ARTIFICIAL LEG.

- APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 19,1920.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor.

A. BEURDELEY.

ARTIFICIAL LEG. APPLICATION FILIZD JULY 19,1920.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

S-SHE Inventor 3 SHEET 5;. 5

' A. BEURDELEY.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

APPLICATlON FILED JULY 19,1920.

1,407,369, Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- Fig. 54

yUNi'ia D' star f ,-.A1\man BEURD LEY, or rams, FRANCE.

menace. i i

, (GRANTED UNDER THE 'rnovi'siciis or runner To all whom, it mayconcern:

Be it known that 1, Armin BEUnnnLnY, en. gineemcitizen of the FrenchRepublic, residlng at Paris, Department of the Seine, in France,andhaving P. Oi address 79 Rue de Clichy; in the said city',"haveinvented certain new-and useful Improvements in Artificial'Legs,(for-whichfI have filed applications in France Dec. 11; 1918, and March7 1919;) and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the inventiom's'uch aswill enable others skilled inthe art'to which it appe'rtains to make and use the same;

The present invention'relatesto artificial limbs and particularly toartificial legs intended to replace asnear'as possible, both fromoutward appearance and manipula tion, an amputated limb.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a device of thecharacter indicated, wherein all the partsare articulated and connectedin sucha manner as to fulfill all the requirements necessary in anefiicient apparatus of thisflkind; and the thigh parts are so designedas to provide the amputated subject with a flexible support underthebuttock by means of the hip bone which is a natural point-of support,and to fix the a1n-- putated member by .means of broad ters, one ofwhich prevents the stump from moving out of the stock of the lower legpor: tion.

Another important feature is that the sup port can be adjusted asrequired'by the amputated subject according to the pressure the latterwishes to place respectively upon the knee or the buttock in consequenceof temporary sensitiveness or for any other reason.

ment made by the leg in moving from the upright to the seated positionwhen the am'-' putated-subject bends his leg, but there is nodisplacement relatively to the apparatus on account of the variations inlength during this movement. V m I Still another feature is 'thepart1cular 'means by which the articulation uniting the foot to thelower leg portion; namely the ankle, can be displaced in two directionsat this is the lateral The articulation of the knee which: is integralon the one hand with the upright ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Specification of Letters ratent. Patint ed Fgb, 21, :1 Application.filed July .19, 1920. Serial No. 397,364.

or Manon aie'ai, 41 STAT. 1,1313.)

is in a plane formfront to back, in a manner similar to the movementemployed in walls ing. The second, the amplitude of which is reduced,takes place in a frontal plane and play which permits the foot. toadjust itself to the irregularities of the ground. i

The part of the foot which represents the toesis also articulated andarranged insuc'h a manner as to restorethefunction of this part of thefootas in the case of a normal person, the function being to continuethe propulsion when the heelhas left the ground. The external part ofthe ankle articulation is efliciently protected by a rubberbracelet ofspecial form, which joins the separate parts without folds continuousmanner. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, inwhich: v

Fig. 1 is a View of the complete apparatus in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of theapparatus, as illustrated in 1; I

Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus in rear elevation; H I j v Figs. 4 and5fare enlarged sectional detail views of the foot and" ankleconnections, illustrating the flexible joint construction; Fig. 6 is aview illustrating the manner of applying the complete de'viceto thewearer; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the device asadjusted to the wearer;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail View of the hinged knee jointconstruction;

Fig. 9 is a modification illustrating. another means of adjustingfltheheight of the upper part of the apparatus; j v Fig. 10 isanothermodification illustrat ing another forin'of the upper slidingconnection to which the hip securing straps or hands are attached; and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14] illustrate various modifications of means foradjusting the height of the upper part of the" apparatus and means forsecuring the same to the wearer. j u j Referring to thedrawings indetail, the, apparatus comprises a lower leg portion 1," preferablyhollow, the vided with a toe extension 3, and an upper thigh embracingframework which isadapted to be held in position and secured was wearerby straps or handset, 5 andfi. rightangles .to oneanother, the first ofthese foot member 2 pro work, Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9, are formedessentially of: two hollow metallic uprights of oval shape in threepieces, 7, 8 and 4 which can slide in one another, the part 8 carryingat its lower extremity an eccentric for the purpose to be hereinaftermore fully set forth. V

I At the top is the supportingband 4,wh 1ch is shaped to follow thecontour of the thlgh at the height of the hip bone and receives thatpart of the weight of the amputated subjects body which he desires toput upon it. This band terminates at each of its extremities in aneyelet hole by means of which it is attached to a bolt or rivet in thepart- 4 ,"theamputated member being also fixed by two additional bandsof ample width 5 and 6, the band 5preventing the inversion produced byapplying pressure to the band 4', while the band 6 prevents the stumpfrom moving out of the stool: of the lower leg portion. 7

The part 7 referred to above can slide 1 with a gentle friction in thepart 8,,and

' effected very conveniently.

the part 13 is provided with a collar which may be tightened by a bolt,thus allowing the height of the hip 41: to be adjusted with precision,and in addition,

on the part 7 a spring 14: is mounted,

the pointof support of which is located in a collar 14: fixed to thepart 7. The part 4: can also slide in the part 7 and the force exertedby the band 1 is transmitted to the springs 1414, through the part 4:which presses on the lower end of it. A small screw placedat the bottomof the part 1 limits the movement of the springs and the point of thisscrew passing through a small groove 15 cut out in the part 7. Theadjustment of the height may also be effected in another manner which,is shown in Figure 9. In this construction the part 7 is perforated atits lowerend by anuniber of small holes 12 while at the upper end ofthe'partS there is a corresponding hole.

The height can now be adjusted in a very simple manner by means of asmall pin 11 having a fiat head, this pin being held in position by aspring 10,an arrangement which allows the height adjustment to be Inorder to increase the security against injury to the perinaeum, whichmight otherwise be causedby the impact of the part 4 against it, amodified arrangementof the part 4 is provided. lVith this object inview, the part 4: is designed as shown in .Fig. 10. uThe part 4 is muchshorter than the part 4 but this difference is compensated for by abackward extension of the former part, at the top of which there is ahole 4? from which the band 4 is suspended. f

The thighparts terminate in an eccentric 16 the-details of which areshown in Figure 8 in two sections. The part 9 attached to the lower legportion terminates in as -fork 16 forming a mortise, the part 8 endingin the axis 9, a bronze piece 16 which forms the eccentric being mountedon this bolt.

The fixing garter 6 is of. the customary form and is laced up on theoutside as usual; it is attached to the thigh uprights by 1 acounter-plate which holds'it against the upright by means of small:bolts, the. heads' 'of which are imbedded in the plate. This method ofassembly facilitates the removal of the parts and enables themto becleaned. The foot 2 is united to the lower leg portion by a doublearticulation, the constructional details of which are shown in Figure 4;while the complete arrangement is shownin Figure 2. 1

The two axes of rotation may be clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5, thetransverse axis being represented by thecpin 27 and the longitudinalaxis being formed by the hollow half-cylinder 28, which serves inaddition as an oil box and enables the pin 27 to be lubricated throughthe small passages 31, the oil being introduced through a small opening28 covered with a plug. The longitudinal axis 28 is reinforced atitscenter by a rib 29, and interposed between'the member 28 and the footisa leather pad 32 The return movements of the foot in a longitudinaldirection are effected by means of two flexible connections fixed on theone hand to the foot, andbn the ot-her, to a specially shaped partwhichgis integral with the lower portion of thelower leg portion.'

by a screw which enables the tensionof the" spring to be adjusted, andconsequently the movement oftheanlrle "in the direction fro back tofront. The-return movement for the front part of the foot, w-l1ich canbe adjusted, is'efi'ected by means of arubber spring 20 connected on theone side to the lower leg portion and hooked at theother end to acstem22' provided at its extremity with a screw-thread, the tension of theadjusted by means of the spring being screw 21.

The return movements of the foot in a transverse directionare efl'ectedin the following manner Y Two stirrups v 24 provided with bronze :1bushings 26 are mounted onthe pin 27 the lower part of' these stirrupstaking the form of a stem 25-:provided atits extremity Wit-1.11}?screw-thread.v Spiralsprings-23 are threa'clecl onito these stems,the springs be-f lng compressed by means of the screw against thejupperpart'of -ithe cavity. provided to receive: them in the interior of thefoot. Theeffect of :all lateral movement will beta cause thehollow halfcylindrical axis 28 to oscillate, thus compressing first one alndt-hcnatheother of the springs which will subsequently cause the foot toreturn-to its normal position i 7 ljllQtItlGHlablOIl as described aboveis proteotedbya rubber bracelet 18,'Fig. 1. 1T The articulation at theextremity of-th foot3 is illustrated-inv FigureQ and consists of aspring 34 which returns the foot when it :moves; round the articulation85, the up penpart being "protected by a leather co.v-' ering 33; sFigure =6 shows another method of; articulatingthe extremity 3 of thefoot.

y The-return moyementi'is effected here by means of arrangement whichallows the tension ot a return spring to be adjusted, the said spring;which is fixed at .39 to the lower leg; portion is continued in the formofa wire-through a brass, tube 40imbedded in the heelgiand is finallyconnectedto the hook ofan adjustable turnbuckle 36, the

otherextremity of which ishooked to ,a rod 38 fixedfat the extremity .3of the foot.

'T he complete? apparatus is 'supported by a suspension device of{special form Whichis Shown, diagrammatically in Figure 7. The.actua-lsuspensiondevice is in two parts; the-part 4L1 takes ,theformfiof a somewhat wide band and the part/l2 on the other hand'fications of the parts described above.

comprises-an ordinary catgut corda On this cord a roller-45 .can move;the roller, being connected ,to an intermediate flexible suspension 431,the length of which can beadjusted. At the other extremity of this parta second roller 45 is fixed, on which a second catgut cord 4st can move,the ends of this cord being fixed at 1717, Figures 1, 2 and 7. Thissuspension arrangement does not inconvenience the amputated subject inany way and adjusts itself automatically to the body, and owing to itslight weight does not cause the wearer to become i'induly heated.

The lower leg portion is constructed in a special manner, the plasticmaterial surrounding a frame of steel wire uprights tied together atsuitable points. This detail is not shown in the figure. The verticalsteel wires are placed at the front and rear of the prosthetic column inorder to possessing conform'a light armoured beam siderable strength.Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate modi- In Fig. '11 the part 46 whichslides into part 47 carries at its lower end a rack48 with which adouble-toothed pawl engages, a

smalL-s 'iring =50fholding this ipawl in position. Inorder :to adjustthe height it is only; necessary to press the end of the pawl inorderitoy-release the -pa'rt46 for :the purpose-of lowering or raisingitfthe teeth ofrthelpaivl;beingallowed to engage with the rack.Thisoperation can be carried out with the; great-estri acilitywhenrequired by the amputated,subject.' Y.

. At the upper part otE-the thigh pieces the flexibility; o t.the-support was obtained as described above by means of springs whichwere-wound 'on'-the part in question and were not; protected; -Thisarrangement, which: possesses certain disadvantages,- is here replacedby -a=:part 51, Figures 11, 13, and 14 which permits thespringstooperate in a more eflicientf manner and enables .them tobe' protectedtrom contact with the garmGIltS." V i i I, i I

Th-e part 51' islocated between the upper endofthe thigh pieces and theactual thigh or hip support.

Part 510 is composed essentially of a metal covering forming a box inwhich twospiral springsI52 areelocated, these springs working undercompression; Tlie box protects them and serves as a guide.- The twosprings: are compressed by a small-crosspiece 53 which forms a pistoninthe box 51,1-a belt holder 54: terminating in a threaded rod, and ascrew 55 completing the arrangement. At the'lower end of the part 51 ahole 56 is provided by means of which the partis fixed by a bolt andscrew to the upper end ofthe thigh piece 46, Figure 11. so that itcanl'ie adjusted to any desired 7 position -when oscillating around thebolt. The belt which takesthc load transmitted bythe hip iszprovided atits extermities with two series of eyelet: holes 58, Figure 11. by meansorwliichit is fixed by passing a lace through the holcsm The-mountingand dismounting of the apparatus as well as the adjustment can thus beeffected in a very 1 convenient manner.

, The modification to the belt or garter 59 has been made with a view toobtaining an easier method of dismounting the apparatus. The two pieces47%? pass between the ac- 115 tual belt 59 and two additional pieces 60are tightly secured to the belt 59 on each side of the latter. The beltis fixed to the part 47 17 by means of two small bolts fixed to supportsll-d7, which are passed through 120 corresponding holes in the parts60-450, the whole apparatus being secured by nuts 61- 61. In order todismount it, it is only neces- .sary to release the nuts 6161 andcleaning can thus be very conveniently carried out.

What I claim is:

1. An artificial leg, embodying a thigh portion, a lower leg portion anda foot portion, said thigh portion comprising a pair of complementaryuprights hinged to the lower leg portion and provided with a flexibleand adjustable seat for supporting the hip bone of the wearer, said seatconsisting of-an oscillating band havingits ends pivotedto the upperends of said uprights and means for adjusting the height of said band.

2. An artificial leg, embodying a thigh portion, a lower leg portion anda foot portion,-said thigh portion comprising a pair of complementaryuprights hinged to the lower leg portion and provided with a flexibleseat for supporting the hip bone of the wearer, said seat consisting ofan oscillating band having its ends pivoted to the upper ends of saiduprights, adjustable springs for suspending each end of the oscillatingband and means for adjusting the height and length of said band.

' 3. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh portion, a lower leg portion,and a foot portion, and a universal joint connection between the lowerleg portion and said foot portion, said universal joint connectionconsistingof transversely arranged compression springs providing for thelateral play of said foot portion, an inclosed sprlng-controlled pistondevice connected to the rear of said .foot portion, and a flexible andextensible stay secured to the front thereof, all of said flexible andextensible connections having their upper ends secured to the lower legportion. i

4;. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh portion, a lower'leg portion,and a foot portion, said thigh portion being eccentrically connected tothe lower leg portion, and a universal joint connection between thelower leg portion and the foot portion, said universal joint connectionconsisting of transversely arranged compression springs providing forthe lateral play of said foot portion, aninclosed spring-controlledpiston device connected to the rear of said foot portion, and flexibleand extensiblestay secured to the front thereof, all of said flexibleand extensible connections having their up; 7

per ends secured to the lower legportion;

5. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh portion, a lower leg portion, afoot portion, and a flexible and extensible suspensiondevice, saiddevice consisting of two members, one'of said members being supportedfrom the shoulder of the wearer and the other portion, a lower legportion, a footportion,

and a flexible and extensible suspension de-' vice, said deviceconsisting oftwo members,

one member thereof being supported from the shoulder ofthe wearer andtheother-se- V cured to the lower leg portion, an intermedlate extenslbledevice mterposedbetween sa1d suspenslon members, an eccentric"connection between the thigh portion and the lower leg portion, and auniversal 'j'oint'connection between the lower leg portion and said footportion, said universal-joint con nection consisting of transverselyarranged compression sprlngs providing for thelateral play of said footportion, anfinclosed spring-controlled piston device'connected to therear of said foot portion, and a flexibleand extensible stay secured tothe front thereof, all ofsaid flexible and extensible connections havingtheir upper ends secured to the lower leg portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix in presence of a witness.

Witness CLEMENT S. EDWARDS.

my signature,

ANDRE E RDELE Y i i

